AP Poll: 6 SEC teams land in Associated Press preseason Top 25

It was no surprise to see Alabama as the top-rated team in the poll coming off back-to-back national title game appearances. The Crimson Tide received 52 of the 61 possible first-place votes and totaled 1,513 poll points to finish ahead of Ohio State (1,414 points). Alabama opens against No. 3 Florida State in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Sept. 2.

Earlier this month, the Crimson Tide was revealed as the top team in the Amway Coaches Poll as well.

Auburn is the next SEC team in the poll at No. 12, followed closely by SEC West rival LSU at No. 13.

Three SEC East teams round of the league’s presence in the AP Top 25, with Georgia at No. 15, Florida at No. 17 and Tennessee at No. 25.

The Associated Press began its college football poll on Oct. 19, 1936, and it is now the longest-running poll of those that award national titles at the end of the season. The preseason poll was started in 1950. 61 members members vote in the poll each week.

The final AP Poll of 2016 placed the Crimson Tide as the top SEC team at No. 2 behind national champion Clemson. LSU checked in at No. 13 after a strong performance during a bowl win against Louisville, followed closely by back-to-back SEC East winner Florida finished at No. 14. Tennessee finished at No. 22 and Auburn fell all the way to No. 24 after a Sugar Bowl loss to Oklahoma.